Uncoupling mechanism



I. H. MILLIKEN ET AL UNCOUPLING MECHANISM Sept. 2 2924.

Filed July 10 ,.1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 2 1924. 1,507,244

I. H. MILLIKEN :11 AL UFICOUPLIN'G MECHANISM 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10 3 nun H01 Sept. 2-. 1924. I 1,507,244

I. H. MILL-"(EN ET AL UNCOUPLING MECHANISM Filed July 10 I922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 @fil".

Patented Sept. 2, 1924.

'UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

ISAAC H. MILLIKEN, OF AS?INVVALL, AND WILLIAM. J. REGAN, OF PITTSBURGH,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOBS TO THE MCCONWAY 8t TORL-EY COMPANY, 02 PITTS- BURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

* I UNCOUPLING IVIEGI-IANISM.

Apphcation filed July 10, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Isaac H. MILLIKEN and lVILLLAM J. REGAN, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Aspinwall, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uncoupling Mechanism; and we do-hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' Our invention relates to uncoupling mechanism for operating the lock of a car coupler, While it is designed to be particularly well, suited for use with the Master Car Builders D-type coupler employing a bottom operated lock, the invention may be embodied in uncoupling mechanism for operating the looking devices of other forms of car couplers as well.

. The principal object of the invention is to afford an efliciently and reliably operating uncoupling mechanism of simple and compact form whose parts may be readily assembled and disassembled and which are so interlocked that their accidental disassociation in service is prevented.

The primary feature of the invention, generally stated, consists in actuating the lock of a car coupler by means of a vertically rotatable member operatively connected to the lock and slidably supported toward its rear end by actuating means which are swingingly supported by a bail that is itself swingingly sustained by the coupler carrier iron, the said actuating means being provided with a plurality of spaced hooks disposed on opposite sides of the vertically ro tatable member and forming pivotal bean iugs for the said bail, and the said bail being formed at its upper end with spaced eyes adapted to cooperate and interlock with a plurality of hooks with which the carrier iron is furnished.

Another feature of the invention consists in actuating the lock of a car coupler through the instrumentality of a lock lift lever which is pivotally mounted upon the under side of the coupler head and is operatively connected to said lock through the intervention. of a movable link, and in com- Serial No. 574,022.

bining therewith a vertically rotatable rod disconnecting said swinging member from the car after moving the. said lever rearwardly to an abnormal position without disconnecting it from the coupler look.

A further feature of the invention conin providing uncoupling mechanism involving a plurality of uncoupling levers each having an operating handle at itsouter end, brackets mounted on the car in which said levers are journaled, and swinging means operatively interposed between the levers and the coupler lock for actuating the latter, each of the brackets in which the re- 1 spective uncoupling levers arejournale: being provided with oppositely extending lugs so disposed that one'of said lugs of each bracket provides means for limiting the roarward swinging movement of the adjacentuncoupling lever handle.

As will. hereinafter appear, there are fur-- ther features of invention relating to special. details of construction and particular combinations of the elements of the mechanism.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred form in which we contemplate applying the invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,

Figure l. is a view, partly in plan and partly in section, showing the relation of our invention. to a car coupler and the portion of a railroad car with which it is associated.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. l, the car coupler being in section.

Figure 3 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of the uncoupling mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view on the line 4-&, F 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical central section of a portion of the. uncoupling mechanism, the vertically rotatable rod being 111 elevation and parts thereof being broken away.

Figure 6 is a View, partly in front elevation and partly in section, of the portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5, parts of the uncoupling levels which extend toward the sides of the car being broken away.

Figure 7 is a rear elevation of the portion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6, parts being broken away. I

Figure 8 is a' section on the line 8-8,

Figure'9 is a detail front elevation of one of the brackets in which the uncoupling levers are'supportingly journaled.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of the bracket shown in Fig. 9.

In the drawings, 1 indicates a' car coupler of the well known Master C'ar'Builders D- type. The lower end'of its lock 2; is movably connected to a link 3 which projects downwardly through the coupler head and: is pivoted at its lower end to a swinging lock lift lever 41: which itself is pivotally'secured to the under side of the coupler head by means of a pin 5. The link3 and pivotedlever4 may, as shown, correspond inform, arrangement and mode of operation with the standard parts of the bottom lift devices of the D type coupler.

T/Vheri the coupler to be capable of a wide range of lateral swinging movements its shank may be formed adjacent its rear end with a pivot pin opening 6 for receiving a tail pin (not shown) by which the coupler may be connected to the draft rigging in a well, known manner. The coupler carrier iron 7 illustrated in the drawings will be recognized as a' well known type, and the brackets 8 and 9, respectively, which provide means whereby the ends of the steam, air and signal pipes may be movably mounted on the car, will also be recognized as well known. These brackets 8 and 9, which are usually formed as integral parts of the brackets 10 and 11 whereby the carrier iron 7 is supported from the draft sills or center sills of the car, are shown in dotted lines. as also are the steam pipe 12 and its appurtenances and the air pipe 13 and signal pipe 14 and their appurtenances, since these features have no direct relation to the present invention. It will be observed, nevertheless, that the use of these devices is in no wise hampered by uncoupling mechanism constructed in accordance with our invention. It is also to be observed that'while the invention is illustrated in conjunction with a well known form of carrier iron, it is not to be understood as limited to the structural features" of the particular carrierv iron chosen for purposes of illustration.

The pivoted lock lift lever 4: is caused to effect an unlocking operation of the coupler lock 2by means ofia vertical rotatable member 15 which is interlockingly connected to the lever i by a hook and eye connection, the lever being fashioned at its inner end with an eye or aperture 16 for receivinga hook 17 with which the'bar or rod-l5 is formed at its forward end. While the bar 1.5 may not be disassociated from the'lock lift lever 4: as long as the latter is connected to the coupler head by means of the pivot pin 5, the hooked forward end of the bar,

as will hereinafter appear, may be released from the eye 16 after the retaining pin 5 has been withdrawn and thelift "lever i" moved rearwardly to an abnormal position permitting the detachment from the car of the means by which said bar 15 is supported at its rear end.

The vertically rotatable member 15 is'sli'dably supported toward its rear end by a member 21 which, upon being actuated,.is-

adapted-to cause the bar 15 to "perform a vertical rotation resulting in. a corresponding unlocking movement of the lift lever- 4h The actuating member 21 is swingingly sup.- pored upon an inverted bail 22 which itself is swingingly or pivotally suspended from the coupler carrieriron 7 by means of plurality of spacedhooks 23 with which said carrier is provided. Instead of forming the hooks 23 as integral parts of the carrier iron 7, it is preferred to fashion themas parts of a casting or bracket 24 that is rivcted to the carrier iron so as to project downwardly from the forward portion thereof. The bail 22 is formed at its upper end with spaced eyes 25. for cooperating with the respective hooks 22h Employing eyes 25 at the upper end of the ball overcomes any tendency of the latter to twist during the operation-of the mechan sm when the coupler occupiesv an extreme position of lateral displacement and also under such conditions obviates the possibility of either end of the bail rising out of'pla'ce and becoming disconnected from the carrier iron.

The actuating member 21 is pivotally supported on the lower portion of the bail 22 at a point below the vertically rotatable rod 15, the said member 21 being for that purpose provided with a plurality of downwardly opening spaced hooks 26 disposed on opposite sides of the member 15 and form-- .ing a pivotal bearing for the lower portiontransversely extending portions 30 and 31, respectively, tying the said side walls together. The transversely extending bar portion 30 passes over the vertically rotatable bar 15 to the rear of the bail 22, while the portion 31, which is preferably of arouate form, extends under the member 15 and supports the same in advance of said bail. \Vhen the actuating member 21 is caused to perform a lock operating rotation the portions 30 and 31 thereof engage opposite sides of the bar 15 and thereby induce the latter to execute a rotation corresponding to that of the actuating member 21.

The actuating member 21 is provided on opposite sides with openings 32 for receiving the inner ends of rotatable uncoupling levers 33 extending in opposite directions toward the sides of the car where they are respectively provided with the usual operating handles 34. The inner ends 35 of these levers are bent downwardly so as normally to stand immediately behind the depending front wall 36 with which the member 21 is provided. When the handle of either uncoupling lever is pulled forwardly its bent inner end presses outwardly against the wall 36 of the actuating member 21 and thereby causes the latter to swing upwardly on the bail 22, thus inducing a corresponding upward rotation of the hooked bar 15. By reason of the fact that the side walls of the actuating member 21 are unconnected immediately in rear of the downturned inner ends 35 of the uncoupling levers, an uncoupling rotation of either of these levers may be effected without actuating the other. To permit the uncoupling levers 33 to be associated with and disassociated from the swinging actuating member 21, portions of the front and side walls of the latter are recessed, as at 20, to enable the outer ends of the levers to be moved toward the end of the car to a position allowing the bent inner ends 35 of said levers to be introduced through the apertures 32 formed in the sides of the said member 21. After the uncoupling levers 33 have thus been associated with the actuating member 21 and their outer ends have been placed in the stationary brackets 37 carried by the car, these members are interlockingly connected and cannot accidentally become disassociated when the device is in service.

The brackets 37 are provided with rearwardly opening hook portions 38 forming journal bearings for the respective uncoupling rods 33. Cotters 39 which pass through suitable apertures in the brackets may conveniently be employed to prevent the uncoupling levers from becoming disengaged from the brackets. Below the bearings 38 each bracket is preferably provided with means for preventing the neighboring handle 34 of the uncoupling lever from coming into con? tact with the steps of the car, thus enabling the handle to be readily grasped and also preventing the steps from being marred when the handle is" dropped after the uncoupling lever has been manipulated to effect an unlocking movement of the coupler lock. The means employed for this purpose preferably consist of oppositely extending lugs 40, one of said lugs on each bracket being adapted to engage the adjacent uncoupling lever handle 34 to limit its rearward swinging movement. By thus constructing the brackets 37 it will be perceived that the necessity is obviated for making them as right and left hand castings.

When either of the uncoupling levers is operated to cause the rotatable bar 15 to perform an unlocking operation, the supporting bail 22 swings lengthwise of the car as may be required to permit the hooked end 17 of the member 15 to conform to the path of travel of the eye 16 of the lock lift lever 4, the said bail first swinging rearwardly and then forwardly.

In assembling the mechanism the retaining pin 5 by' which the lock lift lever 4 is pivotally connected to the under side of the coupler head istremoved so as to permit said lever and the link 3 to which it is pivotally attached to be swung rearwardly. The hook 17 of the bar-15 is then passed through the eye 16 of the lift lever. after which the swinging actuating member 21 is assembled upon the said bar. The bail 22 is then associated with the actuating member 21 and the said bail is then lifted and turned so that the eyes 25 at the upper end thereof may be hooked upon the corresponding hooks 23 with which the coupler carrier iron 7 is furnished. After the eyes 25 of the bail have been passed over the hooks 23, the lock lift lever 4 is drawn forwardly and the retaining pin 5'is reinserted, thus restoring the pivotal connection of the lever 4 to the coupler head. The bent inner ends 35 of the uncoupling levers 33 are then passed through the apertnres 20 in the sides of the actuating member 21 and the outer ends of the uncoupling levers are brought into supporting engagement with the respective brackets 37 at the sides of the car. When assembled the several parts of the mechanism are interlocked against accidental disassociation and the device cannot be disassembled except upon releasing the lock lift lever 4 from its normal pivotal connection to the coupler head.

We claim 1. In an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a vertically rotatable member operatively connected to said lock, means supportingly engaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable member,

and :an inverted bail for pivotally supporting .2. In an uncoupling mechanism, the com- I bination with a car coupler, its lock and carrier iron, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said ameans involving a rotatable .member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, means supportingly engaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable member, and :a bail :swingingly supported by said carrier iron and pivotally supporting said actuating means below said rotatable 1member, said -bail being stormed with spaced eyes-at its upper end, andsaid-carrier iron being provided with a plurality of hooks respectively adapted to cooperate with said eyes, whereby said bail is vprevented from rising out of place and becoming disc-onnected from sai'dcarrier iron.

A 3. In an uncoupling mechanism, the" com" bination with a-car coupler," its lock and carrier iron, of means for moving said :lock to unlocked position, said means involving a rotatable member 'operatively connected to said' lock and extending :rearwardly therefrom, means supportingly engaging and adapted to actuate said rotatable-member,

said last named means being :provided with a plurality of downwardly opening spaced hooks, a nd a bail swingingly supported-by said carrier iron and pivotally connected to said actuating means bysaiddiooks, said bail being 'provided with a plurality of spaced eyes andsaid carrier iron being provided with 'a [plurality of hooks =respectively adapted to cooperate with said eyes.

4. 1n an uncoupling mechanism, the combination with a car coupler-and itsilook',-of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said -means involving a Vertically rotatable member operative'ly connected to said'dock, means supportingly engaging-and adapted to actuate said rotatable'member, an inverted bailffor pivotally supporting said i actuating 'means, and an uncoupling levereiigaging and adapted to actuate said actuating means, said last named means 'being provided with portions'itorming a pivota l be-aring'ior said bail, and saidnncoupling lever having a portion adapted to engage said actuating means "between said bearing portions.

5. In an uncoupling mechanism, the-combination witha "oarcoupler and its lock, of means for moving said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a ver ically rotatable member opera-tively connected tosaid "lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, a ==swinging member adapted P to :actuate said rotatable member, a plurality oi.

uncoupling levers respectively engaging and adapted to actuate .said .s-winging member, and a movable bailtor plvotally supporting said swinging member, said swinging member :being providedwith a plurality of spaced downwardly opening hooks adapted to receiveasaid bailand pivotally to connect said swinging member to sald bail, and said ed to aactuate said swinging member, and .a

movable bail :for pivotallysupporting said swinging 111em'ber,1the upper portion of said swinging member being-embraced by the sides of-said bail and being provided with means adapted to engage said bail .to limit the iPlVOliEtl movement of said swinging member in one direction with respect there- 'Z. In,anuncouplingmechanism,the combination :with "a 'car :coupler :and' its lock, of means for :mo-ving said lockto unlocked position, said means invloving a vertically rotatable member operatively connected to said lock and extending rearwardly therefrom, swingingmeans supportingly engaging and adapted to actuated. said rotatable member, :and a :rotatable uncoupling 'lever supportingly journaled on and adapted to actuate .said swinging means, said swinging means being adapted to receive ;the inner end of vsaid uncoupling lever and being formed with a forwardly opening recess to permit the outer end of said leverto be moved.towardtheend of the car to enable said lever to be 'disassociated -'from said swinging means. v

'8. lnanuncoupling mechanism, the combinationwith a car coupler and itslock, of means tor imoving' said lock to unlocked position, said means involving a lock lift lever pivotally connected xtorthe head. of said coupler, means movably connecting said lock and lever, said lever being provided with 'an' eye, a vertically rotatable rod having at its forward-end a hook cooperating with said eye, and swinging "means adapted to actuate said: rod to 'e'fiect :an unlocking move-- 'ment of said lock,-said rodbeing slidably supported-zby .said swinging means and projecting into an aperture therein, and said rod being adapted to be disassociated from said swinging means and disconnected from said lock lift lever upon moving said lever to an abnormal position without disconnecting said link from said lock.

9. In an uncoupling mechanism, the com bination with a car coupler and its lock, of a lock lift lever pivotally mounted upon the under side of the coupler head, a link interposed between and movably connecting the said lever and lock, a vertically rotatable rod adapted to actuate said lever to effect an unlocking operation of said lock, and swinging means slidably supporting and adapted to actuate said rod, said swinging means having an aperture through which the rear end of said rod extends, said lever being provided with an eye, and said rod being formed at its forward end with a hook cooperating with said eye, said hook and eye being normally interlocked but being adapted to be disconnected when said lever is released from its pivotal connection to the coupler head while connected to said look through said link.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

ISAAC H. MILLIKEN. WILLIAM J. REGAN. 

